Evan said sharply, “That proves nothing.”
Richard turned toward him.
“I didn’t ask you.”
I removed my phone from my evening bag.
“I refused the offer.”
Richard held out his hand.
I showed him the email.
The payment had been proposed through a law firm.
Richard read the sender information.
Then he looked at Evan.
“That firm represents you personally.”
Olivia grabbed Evan’s arm.
“There has to be an explanation.”
“There is,” I said.
She snapped, “Stay out of this.”
For the first time that night, I laughed.
Everyone looked at me.
“You dragged me over here.”
Her face reddened.
Evan lowered his voice.
“Sophie, whatever you think happened, you don’t understand the pressure I was under.”
That was the first confession.
Not enough for a courtroom.
More than enough for a father.
Richard motioned toward a private lounge.
“Everyone. Now.”
Inside, Richard called Vale Meridian’s general counsel.
I forwarded the email, metadata, and original preservation notices from my investigation.
The attorney went quiet after reading them.
Then she said, “Richard, do not let Evan access company systems.”
Olivia stared at her fiancé.
“What did you do?”
He snapped, “I protected the company!”
“No,” I said. “You protected yourself.”
Then I revealed the detail I had kept from everyone.
The deleted records had been restored.
And they showed Evan had received payments from one of the shell suppliers.
$620,000.
Richard slowly sat down.
Olivia whispered, “Tell him she’s lying.”
Evan said nothing.
